Visiting Hour Flashcards
(10 cards)
The hospital smell combs my nostrils
Maccaig used a metaphor to compare the strong smell of the hospital as it enters his nose to being combed. Just as a comb brushes against something, so too is the smell of the hospital touching his skin and sticking to him which suggests the smell is familiar.
Green and yellow corridor
The colours green and yellow suggest sickness and completes the initial sensory experience of entering the hospital. At this point the speaker seems detached from thier emotions surrounding who they are visiting.
Trundled
Word choice suggests slow movement or not being in a hurry which again suggests an emotionless view of what’s happening in the hospital and trying not to be emotional.
Vanished heavenward
A contest between the slow movement of ‘trundled’ and the sudden movement of ‘vanished’ suggests the finality of death and how sudden it is and is reinforcing what the speaker is trying to avoid.
I will not feel
Maccaigs use of repetition is highlighting how the speaker is trying hard to resist the emotions they are feeling about the patient and thier upcoming death.
Their slender waists miraculously carrying thier burden of so much pain
This use of word choice in ‘slender’ has connotations of little and in this context the writer is sharing his admiration for the nurses and how they can handle the pain of thier jobs
Lightly, swiftly
This use of word choice suggests efficiency and moving with ease and in this context suggests that the speaker really admires the nurses capability as thier job has high demands.
She lies in a cave of white forgetfulness
The use of a metaphor in ‘cave’ is used to compare the distance between the speaker and the patient he is visiting. Just as a cave is deep and cavernous. So too the patient is moving further away from life and closer to death.
Not guzzling but giving
Through Maccaigs use of a word choice he is suggesting that although it h fangs are usually associated with taking life away, the needle is doing the opposite and giving the patient life as they can’t do so themself.
Books that will NOT be read
The speaker once again highlights the finality of death as we would no longer be able to do the things that we were once able to but this is also a celebration of life and a reminder to enjoy life.
